Automatically-operated weather-strip



Patented Nov. 29, I898.

G. KRUENCKE. AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED WEATHER STRIP.

(No Model.)

A u z UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAV KROENCKE, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

AUTOMATICALLY-OPERATED WEATHER-STRIP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 615,189, dated November 29, 1898.

Application filed October 15, 1896. Serial No. 608,911. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it TTI/G/ZJ concern:

Be it known that I, GUSTAV KROENCKE, of Toledo, county of Lucas, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatically Operated Weather-Strips; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an automaticallyoperated weather-strip, and has for its object to house the weather-strip within the door, to be automatically lowered in contact with the floor when the door is closed and to automatically raise from the floor into the door when the door is open.

The invention consists in certain new constructions and combinations of parts, and such are fully disclosed in the following description and claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a partial sectional elevation of a door, illustrating the longitudinal groove in the lower portion of the same and a weather-strip arranged in accordance with my invention secured therein. Fig. 2 is an end view of the weather-strip. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the guide for one end of the weather-strip and of the inclined projection which enters within the guide to force one end of the weather-strip downward upon the closing of the door. Fig. 4 is a like view of the opposite guide and projection for forcing down the opposite end of the weatherstrip, the weather-strip being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional View of a portion of a door and weather-strip, illustrating more particularly the means for normally retaining the weather-strip in a raised position when the door is open.

1 designates the door, having in its lower edge, extending longitudinally thereof, a groove 2,which is of a size to house the weather strip 3. The weather-strip 3 comprises a sub stantially U-shaped metallic strip 4, between the sides of which is housed the weather-strip 5, which may be of rubber, leather, or analogous material, the strip 5 being held within the metallic strip 4 by means of bolts or rivets 6 passing therethrough. The weather-strip is of a thickness to have a free vertical move ment within the groove 2 in the door and is of a length to extend flush with the edges of the door. The door is cut away at each lower corner, and secured in the cut-away portions are guides 7 and 8, the lower ends of the guides being bifurcated, forming openings 9 and 10, respectively, to receive the weatherstrip and to guide the same in its vertical movement. Communicating with the groove and extending upwardly into the door are the opening portions 11, preferably circular in cross-section, and secured over the opening of the opening portions 11 are plates 12, which have an opening therein of less diameter than the diameter of the openings 11.

13 designates a rod secured at one end to the bolts or rivets 6 passing through the weatherstrip, the opposite end having a washer 14 thereon, between which and the plate 12 is interposed a coil-spring 15, which has a normal tendency to exert an upward pull upon the rods 13, and consequently the weather-strip, to hold and house the strip within the groove 2 of the door. This position of the weather-strip is the normal condition when the door is open-that is, the weather-strip is housed within the groove 2 and is raised above the floor, whereby the door has a free movement either to open or close.

In order to automatically lower the weatherstrip against the floor when the door is closed, I have provided a projection 16, secured to the frame of the door upon the side to which the door is hinged, which is of a size to enter a recess 17 in the guide 7, the lower inclined edge 18 of the projection connecting with the upper edge of the weather-strip when the door is closed to force the end of the weather-strip downward against the floor. Simultaneously with this operation a wedge-shaped projection 19, secured to the door-frame at the opposite side, operates upon the opposite end of the weather-strip to force that end downward, so that the entire weather-strip is forced downwardly simultaneously along its entire length.

The guide 8 is provided with the double inclined shoulder 8. The projection 19 is This ICO

wedge is normally placed with its upper edge approximately level and its lower side inclined, the point of the wedge and its upper side being in line with the lowest point of the shoulder 8, so as to engage the same with slight frictional contact. The shoulder 8 of the guide 8 thus acts as an abutment for the wedge in forcing the weather-strip downward.

Doors are often either accidentally or by design closed with some considerable degree of force. This when the whole strain comes upon the devices securing the wedge or other device for moving the weather-strip downward tends to loosen them and impair the efficient working of the device. This is in the main overcome by the construction just described, as the wedge acting between the strip and the shoulder S the securing nails or screws of the wedge are relieved from strain.

As both sides of the wedge are alike, it can be used for doors opening either way. The projection 16 is provided with the verticallydisposed slot 21 to enable it to be adjusted to the position desired to take up wear or to place it in a different relation made necessary by some change in the position of the door or its frame. The projection 19 is also provided with the curved slot for like purposes of adj ustment.

Projections 16 and 19 are provided with slots 21 and 22, respectively, which allow a vertical adjustment to compensate for wear and also the varying distances between the door and the floor.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a means for automatically operating a weatherstrip which is simple of construction, which operates instantly to lower the weather-strip when the door is closed, and which releases the same instantly upon the opening of the door. Therefore the weather-strip is not in engagement with the floor when the door is being removed.

It will also be seen that by removing the projections 16 and 19 the weather-strip remains inoperative and being entirely housed within the lower portion of the door need not be removed in the summer-time, when the weather-strip is not desired.

What I claim is 1. As an article of manufacture, an automatic weather-strip comprising the following instrumentalities, the strip proper and the spring for moving it in one direction, the guides 7 and 8, the inclined projection 16 coacting with the guide 7 and the Wedge projection 19, the said guide 8 having a shoulder facing downwardly and engaging the projection 19 to serve as an abutment for the same, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a door recessed to receive the weather-strip proper, of the strip located in the said recess, the guides 7 and 8 having each a slot to receive the strip, one of the said guides havinga recess 17 provided with a lower inclined edge, and the other having a double inclined shoulder, the projection 16 with its lower inclined face and the wedge projection 19 having the two inclined faces, the projections 16 and 19 being provided with means for adjusting the same to different positions, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I hereby aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GUSTAV KROENCKE.

\Vitnesses:

WILLIAM \VEBs'rER, CARL H. KELLER. 

